Liquid storage tank



May 25,: 1937. lH. E. RUE ET Al. 2,08'15339 I .n `LIQUID STORAGE TANK Filed Sept. 50, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 25, 1937- H. ERUE ET Al. 2,081,339

Y LIQUID STORAGE TANK u Filed sept. 3o, 1935 s sheets-sheet 2 May 25, 1937. H. E. RUE ET Al.

` n LIQUID STORAGE TANK Filed sept. so, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet' I5 unless it is properly handled and stored.

Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED iSTATES PATENT GFFECE LIQUID STORAGE TANK Harold E. Rue, West Orange, and Raymond N.

Bostock, Montclair, N. J., assignors to Hoffman Beverage Company,

Newark, N. J., a

12 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid storage tanks and to means for cleansing or sterilizing the same, and has particular reference to storage tanks for beer and other beverages, although the invention is not limited to that use. l

In order to prevent beer from being infected as the result of an unsterile condition of the storage tank and beer conduits leading thereto and therefrom, it is necessary to sterilize these conduits and storage tank preparatory to admitting beer to them. Beer, due to its nature and relatively low alcoholic content, forms an excellent medium for the incubation of organisms, so that beer is readily infected and soon spoils Much of the infection of beer is due to contamination of the storage tank and its appurtenant parts and the principal source of such contamination is the outside air, so much so, that a freshly cleansed and sterilized storage tank exposed to the outside air for only a few moments after cleansing or sterilization may be sufliciently contaminated to infect and spoil the next batch of beer stored in the tank.

According to the present invention, Ya storage tank especially adapted for storing beer is provided, which remains sterile after cleansing or sterilization and which is fitted with novel cleansing or sterilizing means enabling the cleansing or sterilization of the interior of the tank Without requiring the tank to be opened to the outside air for that purpose, and without requiring the introduction of brushes and other extraneous scouring means inside. of the tank.

More particularly, the invention comprises an hermetically sealed storage tank of porcelainlined steel or other suitable material having a beer inlet in its side wall adjacent the bottom and an outlet in the center of its bottom, in which outlet is located a rotatable cleansing nozzle or multi-nozzle device projecting upwardly into the tank and having a generally mushroom or domeshaped head provided with spaced nozzles so directed that a cleansing or sterilizing liquid forced through the nozzles under pressure issues from them in the form of powerful jets which impinge on the entire inside surfaces of the tank above the normal liquid line with a scouring action as the head is rotated from outside of the tank. The cleansing or sterilizing liquid, after impingement, flows over the remaining inside surfaces of thetank with cleansing or sterilizing effect. The nozzles in the head are so arranged, geometrically, that when thehead is rotated with uniform angular velocity, each unit of tank space impinged upon receives the same volume of liquid as every other such unit of surface, regardless of location. The cleansing or sterilizing liquid is supplied to the nozzle through a manifold having connected thereto not only the cleansing or sterilizing liquid pipe, but also beer outlet and Waste pipes, each of which is controlled by a valve. By means of the beer outlet Valve, the 110W of beer from the tank may be controlled. The waste or spent cleansing or sterilizing liquid may be Withdrawn from the tank by means of the waste valve. By means of the cleansing or sterilizing liquid valve, the flow of this liquid into the tank may be controlled. Beer leaving the tank and cleansing or sterilized liquid entering or leaving the tank do so through the valve attached to the lower end of the multi-nozzle device.

The sterilizing liquid is preferably a relatively strong chlorine solution or the like and the cleansing liquid a relatively Weak chlorine solution or the like, and these are used with discrimination as occasion may require. All parts of the interior of the tank above the normal liquid line, and the inlet, are cleansed and sterilized by the powerful spray or geyser action of the liquid issuing from the main nozzle having strong scouring action which is more effective than filling the tank with quiescent cleansing liquid and then draining the tank, and much less of the relatively expensive cleansing liquid is used. Those portions of the interior tank surfaces below the normal liquid line are cleansed and sterilized by the action of the cleansing liquid as it washes down over them, after impingement on the surfaces above the normal liquid line.

The beer is maintained in the tank under pressure of a non-oxidizing gas. The pressure at the bottom of the tank is kept constant, automatically, regardless of the rise and fall of the beer level in the tank, and this gas pressure is utilized to force the beer out of the tank as it is Withdrawn. Also, it assists in minimizing foaming and frothing of the beer as the latter is led into the tank. The cleansing or sterilizing spray utilized for cleansing or sterilizing the tank also sterilizes the gas remaining therein, so that the gas need not be Withdrawn and replaced because of cleansing or sterilizing and there is little waste of the gas except that slight amount which is dissolved in the cleansing or sterilizing liquid.

It will be seen that with the present invention beer and other beverages may be kept for indefinite periods in a tank without infection from within the tank, and that the tank may be vco cleansed or sterilized quickly, easily and effectively without opening th-e tank for that purpose, and that therefore the tank will not be infected from the outside air. While tank is especially adapted for storing beer it is not limited to that use but may be employed for storing any liquids whose sterile preservation during storage is necessary because of their nature or is desirable in the interest of sanitation.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a schematic piping diagram for the liquid storage tanks or" this invention, and means for cleansing the tanks;

Figure 2 is an axial section through one of the storage tanks;

Figure 3 is an enlarged axial section through the lower portion of one of the storage tanks, showing the cleansing nozzle and the discharge control valve mechanism thereof;

Figure 4 is a plan View of the spray head of the cleansing nozzle;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-section through the nozzle stem, as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure 6; and

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the base of the nozzle, as seen along the line 6--6 of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, numeral Il] designates the beer supply pipe leading from the brewing means or the like, and branching into two or more pipes t i, each oi" which leads through a three-way valve l2 to an inlet i3, which is preferably located in the side of the storage tank lli near its bottom to minimize turbulence of the beer and its resultant frothing `and foaming. Two or more of the storage tanks l@ with appropriate connections are preferred for storage purposes and also in order that one may be sterilized or cleansed while the other is in use.

A supply of carbon dioxide gas is maintained under pressure within each storage tank lt at all times and when the beer is introduced into the tank, this gas pressure assists in reducing frothing and foaming thereof. The carbon dioxide gas is supplied through rllter i6, pipes l'i and E8, automatic pressure-control valve i9, three-way hand valves 2i) and pipes 2i and 22 into the top of storage tank lil, through opening 23. Sealed outlets 23 at the top of tank it are connected by means of relatively small diameter pipes with pipe 22. Sealed manhole 2li at top of tank l is provided with petcock El?, at its highest point. Before the iirst lling of tank lfl with non-oxidizing gas it is necessary to expel all air. This is accomplished by completely iilling tank with sterilizing liquid from the bottom and expelling air through openings 23 to pipe 22 and safety valve 25 which is manually operated, until tank has been completely purged of air. Petcock 255 on manhole 2li or" tank irl is manually operated to purge off any air entrapped at the top of the manhole. In order to purge air from gauge glass Se, pipe Se and pipe 2 i, sterilizing liquid, simultaneously with lling tank It, is allowed to :dow through them in a direction toward safety valve 25 and released with the manual operation of safety valve 25.

The gas supply line 2l is connected through one of the three-way hand valves 20 and through a second automatic pressure control valve 2?: by pipe 23' to carbon dioxide gas return line 2. Control valve 2@ operates in a direction opposite to control valve i9, the latter passing gas from feed line i'l in accordance with a drop in predetermined pressure of the gas in the tank, and the former passing gas from the tank when its pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum. In this way the pressure of the gas in the tank i4 is automatically controlled so that the total pressure at the bottom of the tank is maintained constant, regardless of the rise and fall of the level of the beer in the tank I4. A by-pass 28, controlled by valve 29, connects pipes I8 and 26 for cleansing purposes and its operation will be described. Steam supply and vent connections l5 and I5 are provided for pipes ll and 21, respectively, for a purpose to be described.

The bottom 3E) of the tank lli merges smoothly into the side walls 3l and is concave, so that the beer flows to outlet 32 connected to discharge control valve 33 having outlet pipe 34. A cleansing nozzle 35 projects upwardly through outlet 32 into the tank Hi and will be described in detail. Pipe Sli is fitted with a sampling cock 35 and is connected through hand valve 3l' with the calibrated gauge glass 38 connected at its upper end by pipe 39 and through three-way valves 2l), pipe 2 l, pipe 22 and opening 23 to tank lli, so that beer entering gauge glass 38 from below is under the same gas pressure as the beer in storage tank i4, and the glass accurately indicates the beer level in tank I4.

The control valve 33, controlling the withdrawal of the liquid from the storage tank I4, is connected by pipe through three-way valve lil to beer outlet pipe lll, which has two branches 42, each controlled by a three-way valve i3 and each leading to a machine Ml for filling and sealing the beer in bottles, or other containers, under sterile conditions. A valve l5 is interposed between valves e3 in beer outlet pipe el to disconnect the communication between branch pipes 42. The ends of beer outlet pipe lll are each provided with a cock i5 for sampling purposes, drainage, or the like. Pipe 3d is also provided with a three-way waste valve lil, which discharges into funnel 48 connected to waste pipe t9 leading through pipe 5@ to waste tank 5l. This waste tank is provided with a waste pump 52 for discharging the contents of the tank to a sewer 53 or other waste line.

Pipe 36 is also provided with another valve 54 connected through quick-opening valve 55 to cleansing or sterilizing pipe 55, which supplies both storage tanks It and is supplied by pipe 57 connected through three-way valve 58 and valve 59, and respective pipes t@ and l to a sterilizing solution pump 52 and to a cleansing solution pump t3. The sterilizing solution pump 62 is connected to pipe Et in turn connected by pipe 65 through valve to a tank El containing a suitable sterilizing solution. The pump 53 draws cleansing liquid from tank S8 through pipes 69 and iid and valves i@ and 'z' i. Pipes 5l and 64 are connected by by- 'i5 to waste tank 5i, and both the cleansing and sterilizing solution lines Gl and S8 are crossconnected by by-pass le to waste pipe 53.

rThe storage tank ifi is of steel, aluminum, or other suitable material and is preferably porcelain-lined to facilitate cleansing. It is provided with the pipe connections described and with the calibrated gauge glass 38, whereby the beer level in the tank is indicated. The cleansing nozzle eiztendinsr upwardly into the tank from the bottom is illustrated in enlarged detail in Figure 3. This cleansing nozzle E5 includes a plate '5l n secured by bolts 'i3 to a companion flange T9 formed on the lower end of a tubular extension Se on the bottom Se of the storage tank M. Secured in a recess in plate il by means of pins is body 8l of the control valve 33, which is preferably an angle valve of the so-called sanitary type, the stem 33 of which carries the valve disc IM at one end and isthreaded through a valve packing bushing 85 at its other end.

The valve stem 8S is tted with a cross bar 36 which slides vertically in a forked yoke 8l as the valve disc 34 moves up and down when the valve stern S3 is rotated. As is ihustrated in Fig. 2, the yoke Sl is secured to and is rotated by a vertical shaft 8B journaled in a step bearing in bracket 83 supported on a base or platform 30, or the like. Shaft 88 is. fitted with a bevel gear SI meshing with bevel gear 32 secured on one end of operating shaft S3 which is journaled at that end in a bracket 9d secured to bearing bracket 89 and at the other end in a bearing bracket 35 secured to the storage tank I4. The free end. of valve-operating shaft 93 is fitted with a hand Wheel 3S adjacent the dial 3l having a pointer 33 rotated by the gears 99 from shaft 93 as the latter is rotated by hand wheel S. The dial 91 is provided with inscriptions indicating the open orclosed condition of the valve 33 and of the ports of the cleansing nozzle 35.

The upper surface of the valve disc 8d is tapped to accommodate a threaded pin |03 on the lower end of the tubular stem II of the cleansing nozzle 35. The lower end of tubular stern IIlI is slotted vertically at spaced points to provide a plurality of spaced ports I 02 which are adapted to function with ports Iil3 in the lower end of tubular sleeve 04 formed integrally with plate TI and serving as a bearing for the tubular stem As is illustrated in Figures 3 and 6, the tube II is fluted on its outer surface to provide surface channels I05 through which the sterilizing solution has ready access to the bearing between tube IilI and sleeve Iil for sterilizing the same. Annular groove |06 is provided in sleeve Il for admitting the liquids to ports |02 when ports |02 and |03 are not aligned, because in certain relative angular positions of the ports |32 and I33 the tube II partially closes port |03, so that, if groove |05;` were not provided, there would not be a sufcient port opening to drain the tank at the proper rate. Ports H32 and |33 are never in precise angular registry, because there are four ports |02 and only three ports |33. Accordingly, the liquid within the tank may ow freely through outlet 32 formed by the tubular extenn sion Bil on bottom 33 of tank I4 into ports |03 and |02 when they are aligned horizontally, and continue to pipe 34 through Valve 33.

The upper end of the tubular stem |0| carries the mushroomor dome-shaped spray head |08 of the nozzle 35, which is secured in place by a pin |09 locked in position by a cotter H0. The upper surface III of the head |38 is convex and is provided at geometrically spaced intervals with a plurality of diverging nozzle openings II2, which are preferably divided into three groups spaced 120 apart in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. The center line of the nozzle openings I I2 are normal to the outer surface of the mushroom-shaped head 108. The geometrical arrangement of the nozzle openings I|2 is such that the jets of liquid issuing therefrom impinge upon each unit of area of the inner surface of the top of the tank I4 and the side wall of tank I4 above the normal liquid level, when nozzle 35 is rotated. The groups of horizontal nozzle openings I |3 are located intermediate the upper nozzle openings ||2 as is indicatedin Figure 4, and diverge in a lateral as well as in an upward direction so as to impinge over a substantial area of the side wall of the tank I4 at the level of the beer inlet I3, so that the latter is also cleansed by the lateral spray issuing from nozzle openings I I3.

In operation, the beer or other liquid is supplied by means of pipes I0 and II to one or more ofthe storage tanks |4,Vthe supply of beer to the several tanks being controlled by the individual valves I2. The beer flows into each of the tanks through the lateral openings I3 without material frothing or foaming due to the position of the opening I3 and also due to the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas on the surface of the beer entering the tank I4, this gas being supplied from feed pipe I'I, in accordance with pressure requirements, by automatic valve I9 to pipe I8,

` past open valves and by way of pipes 2| and 22 to inlet 23 in the top of the tank Ifl. The pressure of carbon dioxide gas also serves to force the beer or other liquid out of the tank when the discharge valves are opened.

In order to withdraw beer from storage tank Ill, hand wheel 955 is rotated until pointer 98 designates the inscription on dial 91 which indicates that the valve 33 is open and ports |02 and |03 are aligned so as to be open, which is substantially the mid-position of the valve disc 84 indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. In this valve position beer or other liquid flows from outlet 32 through registering ports |02 and |33 past Valve disc 8d and into pipe 34 which, if valve Bil is open, supplies beer through pipes 4| and $2 to the bottle-filling and sealing machines 44, or the like. Samples of beer for test purposes or the like may be withdrawn by means of cock 33.

In order to close valve 33, hand wheel 90 is' rotated so that pointer 38 designates on dial S'I an inscription which indicates that valve 33 is closed and ports |02 and |03 are open, which is the uppermost position for the valve disc 84, indicated in phantom in Figure 3.

When it is desired to cleanse and sterilize one of the storage tanks ISI, hand wheel 3% is rotated until pointer 9B designates an inscription on the dial Sl' which indicates that the valve 33 is open and ports II and |03 are closed, which is the lowermost position for valve disc Sii, indicated in solid lines in Figure 3. A sterilizing solution, preferably strongly chlorinated water of the order of twenty parts .chlorine per million parts of water, is then pumped from sterilizing solution tank 3l by means of pump t2 through pipes 56 and ill through quick-opening valve and open valves 53 and 33 into tubular stem ii of nozzle and into spray head |08, from which it issues through nozzle openings I I2 and I I3 in the form of a powerful geyserdike spray, which scours thoroughly the upper portion of the tank Il including the inside surface of the top and the inside surface of the upper portions of the side wall 3l and the lower portions of the side wall 3i at the level of the inlet I3 as well as inside the same, the liquid flowing down the walls and over the bottom 30 of the tank itl. The spray from upper nozzle openings I I2 impinge the walls above the normal beer level therein. While the spray is issuing from the spray head ist hand wheel 93 is rotated, so as to rotate the spray head It back and forth through an angle of about 130,

v so that the spray issuing therefrom also laterally sweeps the interior of the tank so that every unit of area of the interior of the tank is scoured and sterilized in one operation by impingement. At the same time valve 3l is opened and Valve 29 is closed, so that the sterilizing liquid is also forced through gauge glass 30, pipe 3S, open valves 20,

and pipes 2l and 22 into the tank I4, whereby the gauge glass 38 and the connections thereto as Well as pipes 2i and 22 are sterilized.

After the predetermined volume of sterilizing solution deemed necessary to thoroughly sterilize the interior of the tank has been supplied thereto and has collected in the bottom thereof, the pump 62 is shut oi and the spent solution drained from the tank lll by rotating hand wheel 9S to the proper designation on dial 97 indicating that the ports EQ2 and i533 are in registry, which is when the disc 84 of Valve .'53 is in the mid-position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. With the ports H12 and Si aligned and with Valve 35 still open, the spent sterilizing liquid flows from tank ld through pipe S/l and past open valve il?, valve lili being rst closed. The spent sterilizing liquid passes through valve il into the funnel 48 and through pipes i9 and 50 to the Waste tank 5I in which it accumulates until it is pumped by means of waste pump 52 to the sewer or waste line 53.

Then valve 47 is closed and valve 54 is reopened and a cleansing solution, preferably mil-dly chlorinated water of the order of one part chlorine per million parts of Water, is supplied from tank E8 through pipes S9 and Sil to cleansing solution pump 53, which forces it `under pressure through pipes 6I, 51 and 56, valves 55, 54 and 33, and into the spray nozzle I, ports 192 and ID3 having been previously placed out of registry in the manner described. The cleansing solution also flushes the gauge glass 38 in the manner described. By means or" hand wheel S6 the nozzle llli is rotated 'through an angle of approximately 130 during the cleansing solution spraying operation in the manner described and the spent cleansing solution, after the cleansing operation, is drained from the storage tank i4 in the manner described in connection with the draining of the spent sterilizing solution, these sterilizing and cleansing operations being repeated as often as is deemed necessary to secure complete sterilization and cleansing.

During the sterilizing and cleansing operations, the storage tank Ill remains lled with an atmosphere of carbon dioxide gas under pressure and accordingly this gas is also sterilized during the sterilizing operation, so that it nee-d not be withdrawn but is used over and over, only a slight proportion of it being lost due to absorption in the sterilizing and cleansing solutions.

The carbon dioxide gas feed and return lines II and 2li, the pressure control valves I9 and 25, and pipes I8 and 25 may be sterilized and cleansed by pressure steam supplied through steam connection I5. rThe valves Il and 27 are closed, valves I 9 and are hel-d or propped open, by-pass valve 2Q is opened and valves 25 controlling pipes 2l and 39 are closed. Steam is then supplied by opening steam connection i5 and steam flows through pipe I'I, valve i9, pipe i3, by-pass 28, pipe 25', valve 26 and pipe 2l to steam vent l5', so that all of these parts are sterilized and cleansed under steam pressure without opening them to the atmosphere. In order to refill the tank I 4 with beer the hand wheel 9S is rotated until pointer 98 designates on dial @l the legend indicating that valve 33 is in mid-position and ports |52 and ISB are in registry and valves dil, 4l, 54 are closed. Then the beer is supplied from pipes il] and II to the tank through open valve I2 and inlet I3, the beer rising in tank I 4 from the bottom so that frothing and foaming is minimized, this action being aided by the pressure of the CO2 gas on the surface of the rising beer'. Beer is supplied to gauge glass 38 by opening valve 37.

It will be seen that with the arrangement of this invention, an absolutely sterile storage tank for beer or other liquid is provided which may be maintained sterile under all operating conditions With the special sterilizing and cleansing means, whereby before, during and after cleansing and sterilizing operations, neither the storage tank I4 nor any of the pipes and other connections and parts is opened to the atmosphere, so that there can be no contamination from the outside air. Also, all cleansing and sterilizing operations are conducted Without the use of unsanitary brushes, cleaning compounds, or other extraneous apparatus which might carry infectious matter, nor do the hands of the operators engage any parts which are likely to contact the beer or other medium entering the storage tank i4. Accordingly, sterile beer or other sterile liquid entering the tank M remains sterile and is not contaminated during its course in and out of the tank. Thus, sterile beer entering the tank may be kept therein for an indenite period without spoiling and is then conducted under sterile conditions to the lling and sealing machine !ii, which encloses it in sterile condition in sterile containers.

While the new storage tank and sterilizing and cleansing means therefor has been described as especially adapted for use in breweries and the like, it is equally applicable for use in wine, spiritous liquor, and non-alcoholic beverage manufacture, and the like, and, although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, the invention is not limited thereby, but is susceptible of changes in form and detail within its scope.

The term cleansing as used in the appended claims also comprehends sterilization.

We claim:

l. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a container having an opening, a valve element in said opening having a hollow projection within said container, said projection having nozzle apertures, means for simultaneously adjusting said projection and actuating the valve element to predetermined positions toopen and close the container opening, and means for supplying a cleansing fluid under pressure to the interior of said projection when the valve element is in said open position for distribution through the nozzle apertures for forceful impingement against the interior surfaces of said container.

2. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a container having an opening, a valve element in said opening having a hollow projection within said container, said projection having nozzle apertures, means for bodily moving said projection and valve element to open and close the container opening, and means for supplying a cleansing iluid under pressure to the interior of said projection when the valve element is in open position for distribution through the nozzle apertures thereof for forceful impingement against the interior surfaces of said container.

3. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a container having an opening, a valve element in said opening having a hollow projection within said container, said projection having nozzle apertures, means ior simultaneously rotating said projection and valve element to open and close the container opening,

and means for supplying a cleansing fluid under pressure to the interior of said projection when the valve element is open for distribution through the nozzle apertures thereof for forceful impingement against the interior surfaces of said container.

4. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a container having an opening, a valve element in said opening having a hollow projection within said container, said projection having nozzle apertures, means for supplying a cleansing `fluid under pressure to the interior of said projection for distribution through the nozzle apertures thereof for forceful impingement against the interior surfaces of said container, and means for moving said valve element and projection during the cleansing operation.

5. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a container having an opening, a valve element in said opening having a hollow projection Within said container, said projection having nozzle apertures, means for supplying a cleansing fluid under pressure to the interior of said projection for distribution through the nozzle apertures thereof for forceful impingement against the interior surfaces of said container, and means for simultaneously rotating the projection and valve element to open and close said container opening.

6. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a container having an opening, a valve element controlling said opening, a spray nozzle projecting into said container and carried by said valve element, means for jointly adjusting said nozzle and Valve element, and means for supplying a cleansing fluid under pressure to said nozzle when said valve element is open to forcibly spray the interior surfaces of said container.

7. In apparatus of the type'described, the combination of a container having an opening, a

- valve element controlling said opening, a spray nozzle projecting into said container and carried by said valve element, means for jointly adjusting said nozzle and Valve element, and means for supplying a cleansing fluid under pressure to said nozzle when said valve element is open to forcibly spray the interior surfaces of said container.

8. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a container having an opening, a valve element controlling said opening, a spray nozzle carried by said valve element and projecting into said container, said nozzle having drain ports communicating with said valve element, means jointly actuating said valve element and nozzle for closing said ports, and means for supplying a cleansing iiuid under pressure to said nozzle when the ports are closed and the valve element is open to forcibly spray the interior surfaces of said container.

9. In apparatus of the type described, the cornbination of a container having an opening, a valve element controlling said opening, a spray nozzle carried by said valve element and projecting into said container, said nozzle having drain ports communicating with said Valve element, common means for simultaneously opening said valve element and closing said ports, and means for supplying a cleansing solution under pressure to said nozzle When the ports are closed and the Valve element is open to forcibly spray the interior surfaces of said container.

10. In apparatus of the type described, the

'combination of a container having an opening, a

valve controlling said opening, a spray nozzle projecting into said container, said nozzle having drain ports communicating with said valve, means for rotating said nozzle to close said ports, and means for supplying a cleansing fiuid under pressure to said nozzle when the ports are closed and the valve is open to forcibly spray the interior surfaces of said container.

11. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a container having an opening, a valve element controlling said opening, a spray nozzle projecting into said container and carried by said valve element and having drain ports controlled by the position of said Valve, element, means for operating said valve element and thereby controlling said ports, and means for supply-- ing a cleansing fluid under pressure to said nozzle to forcibly spray the interior surfaces of said container.

12. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a substantially cylindrical closed container, a bottom opening therefor, a valve disc cooperating With a seat for controlling the bottom opening, a tubular stem carried by the valve disc and projecting through the opening into the container, said stem having ports controlled by the axial position of the valve disc, means for moving the valve disc and the stem axially to control the valve opening and the port opening, a spray head for the stem, and means for supplying a sterilizing liquid under pressure to the spray head for forceful impingement against the interior surfaces of the container when the Valve is open and the ports are closed.

HAROLD E. RUE. RAYMOND N. BOSTOCK. 

